The month of September is over, and as we look forward to fall colours and gourds galore, we take a look at the past month’s Android distribution numbers, and apparently it’s still Gingerbread season after all.

As of October 1st, 2012, Gingerbread (Android 2.3) still accounts for almost 56% of all Android users. That number is down 1.7% from last month, but it’s still not being replaced nearly fast enough for our liking. Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) is up to 23.7% from 20.8%, and Jelly Bean has risen a smidgen to 1.8% from 1.2% earlier.

Considering Ice Cream Sandwich launched nearly a year ago, and Jelly Bean over three months ago, it’s not that encouraging to see progress this slow. We say it every month, but the fact that the majority of Android devices are still on Gingerbread is a hindrance to the development of beautiful, hardware-accelerated apps.

We know that some devices, like the year-and-a-half-old Motorola Atrix, will never see Ice Cream Sandwich in any official capacity. The same goes for excellent devices from HTC, Samsung and LG. Considering many contracts are between two and three years, the number of Gingerbread devices is not likely to dip in any appreciable way for another year or so.

It’s not surprising that Jelly Bean is so low at 1.8%; only Nexus devices like the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S and Nexus 7, as well as some tablets like the Asus Transformer Prime, have been upgraded to Android 4.1. Once big-name handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X get upgraded that number will jump significantly.

People should only buy Nexus branded Android devices.Only stock Android – none of the TouchWiz or HTC Sense crap.

Brad F

And only the Yakju variant, not Yakjuxw.

RC

Even the non-yakju variants in Canada has Jelly Bean now – earlier than most newer phones including the GS3

Stuntman

Let me know where I can find a Nexus phone with a landscape keyboard slider and I’ll buy one.

vlachos

While nexus devices are ok they do not have external storage and are very plain. They don’t appeal to a lot of non techies. I know a few people on nexus that are still on 4.0 because they don’t know how to upgrade and their carrier has not offered an OTA yet. Nexus have ho hum specs always. Maybe that will change with this years devices but I doubt it. Will vanilla android ever support external sd card e. That’s why I ultimately chose sgs3 to be honest I need the storage.

Milpool

I received my ICS OTA update back on April 5th, and my Jelly Bean OTA update sometime in late July.

skinnypig

Great job MobileSyrup calling it as it is. Many other news sites always paint a rosy picture and emphasize how many devices are on ICS/JB but they don’t look at the flip side where the real concern is which is that so many devices are still stuck on Gingerbread. They also make it sound like such a great thing that devices are seeing ICS now *after* JB has been out for 3 months? No, it’s not great, they should have had ICS *before* JB comes out.

Wes

This is the exact reason why I hate Android, and I have to give Apple credit. There’s so much fragmentation with Android! I have the LG opt 2x and I’m stuck on Gingerbread, honestly that sucks! No ICS no JB, which is a bummer. Looking back I should have gotten the Nexus S, at least I would will have JB on my phone.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my phone, and Android is great, but the multiple layers that delay up dates (Google, Manufacturer, Service provider) is frustrating.

Note to self: Get a Nexus phone, or give Windows a try!

Sorry for the little rant. It’s annoying to have the first dualcore stuck at Gingerbread, and it’s no fault on Google/Android.

Alex

lol

imrangr1

It’s sad that the Android upgrade process is very slow due to manufacturer and carrier bloatware insertion but Gingerbread OS is still better than all other non-Android mobile OS in terms of functionalities, customization and compatibility with other devices.

IBL

holy f’n pathentic

IBL

pathetic too

jonny

that is why i will always buy a nexus device

Rew4rdz

Meanwhile iOS 6 adoption rates dwarf that of ICS/JB.

Ryan P

I bought my Nexus S (ICS) with Telus in July and I have yet to receive the Jelly Bean OTA update. No matter how much checking or what tricks I use to force the update, still nothing.

This is the area where Android really has to improve in the coming future. I shouldn’t be forced to root/flash my phone to get a simple update.

situashaun

I just switched from Apple to Android and that is the one thing that it made me it hard for me to switch. Many of the apple devices get the upgrade together, downloading was easy. Even the 3GS Now I have the SG3 which obviously is a fairly new device and I’m still waiting

Cell Hell

I do find my phone more responsive now. Jelly bean is a definite improvement. Alas, now that I’m using the phone more I find the battery life of the Nexus is bloody awful.